I wanted to share some tips for Hiking with Dogs! I get questions about it all the time and honestly, I see some really scary stuff on the trails! I want to spread awareness on pet safety. It’s extremely selfish to take an animal somewhere they aren’t built to handle.

Just a little background on my pup: we intentionally wanted a dog that was medium sized because we are avid hikers. We knew when we saw him he would be strong enough for the trails, but he was small enough that if he ever got hurt, I could still physically carry him if I needed to (I’m 5’3).

There’s many safety hazards for animals so unless you are a responsible adult who understands heat advisories... LEAVE YOUR DOGS AT HOME! We found out that there’s about 35 dogs buried at the bottom of Cedar Creek Falls who never made it back. This is totally preventable bc HUMANS are responsible for their pets, and ignore all warning signs during the summer heats. This makes me SICK.

SAFETY + HIKING WITH DOGS

⚠️ If you DO decide to your dog on a trail with water (like a lake, pond, stream) they can play in, DO NOT let your dog swim for a long time. Their paws get soft from the water (just like our hands). Hiking back can literally shred and rip their paw pads off from the heat and rocks... please please be careful friends!

⚠️ Easy rule of thumb: If it’s too hot for you, it’s WAY too hot for them. (They make “cooling collars” for dogs to help them dissipate heat).

⚠️ If you’re thirsty, hungry, or tired, then they probably are too. Take breaks ☺️

⚠️ Take your pup on training hikes before committing to long ones. This helps toughen-up their paw pads.

✍🏻 always check to see if dogs are allowed on the trails, and abide by the rules. Most sites will give you advisory warnings!

⚠️ always consult your vet to make sure they are up to date one their shots!

⚠️ look into getting your dog vaccinated and/ or trained for rattlesnake encounters

Do any of you have additional hiking tips for pet safety? I would love for you to share!